via Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club
Lucky Stable’s Real Success left it late to get up in the shadows of the post in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1400m on Sunday.
The chestnut four-year-old by Reset was caught behind the eight-ball behind a weakening horse upon straightening, but under two-time Singapore champion jockey Vlad Duric’s expert guidance, he pulled himself out of that pickle to go and reel in Gold Star (Patrick Moloney), who was being hailed the winner at the 200m.
Well supported into $20, Real Success got a nose in front of Gold Star right at the last hop with Chalaza (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) third another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 22.16secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
A former two-time winner (1200m and 1325m) and two-time placegetter from only eight runs in Australia when prepared by the Ng family’s Victorian trainer Matt Laurie, Real Success has certainly reproduced that handy form in only a few starts in Singapore.
One first win second-up in a Class 4 race over 1400m and now a second hurrah at his third start when lifted in grade, even if trainer Michael Clements still rues the one that got away on debut.
“When he arrived, he showed us a lot. I’m still surprised he got beaten first-up (fourth to Federation in a Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m on June 9),” said the Zimbabwean-born handler.
“In hindsight, he took time to acclimatise. He didn’t look good in his coat.
“He clocked time today. It’s a pretty fast time for this class.
“He was in a good position, but turning for home, a horse came back on him and closed him in. He was in a pocket.
